Christmas Project: Dinner in a Box

Everyone has nights where they don't know how they are going to get dinner on the table.  A lovely gift for busy families is this dinner-in-a-box idea.

Minestrone Soup in a Jar

Ingredients:
¼ cup red lentils
¼ cup green split peas
¼ cup barley
1/3 cup vegetable bouillon powder
2 tbsp. parsley flakes
3 tbsp.  onion flakes
1/3 tsp. dried thyme
1/3 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. dried  basil
¼ cup ditalini pasta
1 28-oz can crushed tomatoes
1 can of sliced carrots
8-10 oz jar with lid

In the jar, layer from the bottom in the order  given, from lentils to pasta.  Seal jar.  Attach gift card with instructions. Give with cans of tomatoes and carrots.

Include these instructions with your gift: In a very large saucepan combine 8 cups of water, a  28 oz. can of crushed tomatoes, a can of sliced carrots and soup mix. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for one hour or until peas are tender.  

Fluffy Cornbread Muffin Mix

The trick to making cornbread that is fluffier, less grainy, and doesn’t have the bitter aftertaste is to add yellow cake mix to your cornbread mix.

Ingredients:
1 box Jiffy cornbread mix
1 box Jiffy yellow cake mix
8 x 8 disposable baking pan

Combine cornbread mix and cake mix.  Seal container.  Combine with soup mix, baking pan, carrots, tomatoes, and dish towel for a lovely gift. 

Include these instructions with your gift: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease an 8 x 8 pan.  Combine cornbread mix with 1/2 c. water, 1/2 cup milk, 2 eggs, and 1/4 c. oil.  Bake 30 minutes. The cornbread is ready when a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.